Ludwig
Borrowed from German Ludwig, which see for more information.
Every Ludwig since 1880 — 2,696 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ludwig
Ludwig is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #7,044 in 2025 with 12 babies given the name. It is currently holding steady compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 2,696 American babies have been named Ludwig. Its peak came in 1916, when 88 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ludwig stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ludwig year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | #7,044 |
| 2024 | 10 | #8,100 |
| 2023 | 9 | #8,657 |
| 2022 | 9 | #8,722 |
| 2021 | 13 | #6,545 |
| 2020 | 8 | #9,228 |
| 2019 | — | — |
| 2018 | 11 | #7,430 |
| 2017 | 6 | #11,628 |
| 2016 | 8 | #9,365 |
| 2015 | 13 | #6,560 |
| 2014 | 7 | #10,311 |
| 2013 | 12 | #6,869 |
| 2012 | 10 | #7,911 |
| 2011 | 9 | #8,515 |
| 2010 | 5 | #13,495 |
| 2009 | 10 | #8,075 |
| 2008 | 6 | #11,995 |
| 2007 | 7 | #10,457 |
| 2006 | 8 | #9,254 |
| 2005 | 10 | #7,456 |
| 2004 | 9 | #7,940 |
| 2003 | — | — |
| 2002 | 7 | #9,027 |
| 2001 | 5 | #11,645 |
| 2000 | 9 | #7,185 |
| 1995 | 6 | #8,462 |
| 1990 | 6 | #7,731 |
| 1985 | 5 | #7,164 |
| 1980 | 6 | #5,961 |
| 1975 | 6 | #5,192 |
| 1970 | 8 | #3,709 |
| 1965 | 17 | #1,968 |
| 1960 | 8 | #3,237 |
| 1955 | 19 | #1,826 |
| 1950 | 13 | #2,162 |
| 1945 | 20 | #1,518 |
| 1940 | 25 | #1,352 |
| 1935 | 37 | #1,071 |
| 1930 | 37 | #1,166 |
| 1925 | 39 | #1,137 |
| 1920 | 61 | #884 |
| 1915 | 75 | #674 |
| 1910 | 16 | #771 |
| 1905 | 15 | #627 |
| 1900 | 10 | #882 |
| 1895 | 15 | #545 |
| 1890 | 10 | #651 |
| 1885 | 8 | #740 |
| 1880 | 9 | #666 |
Famous people named Ludwig
- Ludwig van Beethoven Composer · 1770–1827
- Ludwig Wittgenstein Philosopher · 1889–1951
- Ludwig Feuerbach Philosopher · 1804–1872
- Ludwig II of Bavaria Politician · 1845–1886
- Ludwig Boltzmann Physicist · 1844–1906
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ludwig mean?
Borrowed from German Ludwig, which see for more information.
How popular is the name Ludwig in 2025?
Ludwig ranked #7,044 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 12 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ludwig?
2,696 babies have been named Ludwig in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ludwig most popular?
Ludwig peaked in 1916, when 88 newborns received the name.
Is Ludwig a boy or girl name?
Ludwig is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ludwig rising or falling?
Ludwig has been roughly stable over the past decade.
Who are famous people named Ludwig?
Well-known people named Ludwig include Ludwig van Beethoven (composer), Ludwig Wittgenstein (philosopher), Ludwig Feuerbach (philosopher).